Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi

After refining a wisp of Demonic Qi, Zhang Yao keenly sensed a change in himself.

Due to the mutual annihilation of Magical Power and Earthly Miasma, the Magical Power he recently restored through the Breathing Technique and the refining of Spiritual Qi actually increased slightly in total amount.

Although this slight increase is insignificant, like a ladle of water added to a vast lake, it was still captured by his Divine Thought.

"So, overseeing the Demon Cave and refining Demonic Qi can actually enhance one’s own cultivation and increase one’s Magical Power."

"No wonder those outsider Golden Core Cultivators stay at the Demon Cave in the Mani Kingdom for decades or even centuries; there are such hidden benefits..."

At this moment, Zhang Yao finally understood.

The most important thing for a Golden Core Cultivator is still one’s cultivation. If it’s purely for external things, spending decades or centuries to accumulate Good Deeds seems a bit fruitless.

But if the process of overseeing the Demon Cave itself can substitute for cultivation, then the cost-effectiveness is very high, no wonder so many Golden Core Cultivators flock to it.

"Hmm..."

Zhang Yao sat cross-legged, calming his mind, continuously refining Demonic Qi and feeling the growth of his Magical Power.

One hour later, he came to a basic conclusion:

The efficiency of enhancing Magical Power through the stimulation of refining Demonic Qi is fixed, and the speed is not fast, at least nowhere near his First Grade Golden Core cultivation speed, at most comparable to Fourth and Fifth Grade Golden Cores.

If it could really compare to the effect of a Top Grade Golden Core, I’m afraid the many Golden Body Arhats of the Mani Temple wouldn’t be willing to give up such a ’treasure land’.

"However, for me, the reduced cultivation speed doesn’t matter."

In Zhang Yao’s heart, a thought flickered slightly:

"Refining Demonic Qi is very simple, it doesn’t require much focus, and most of the energy can be used for cultivating Divine Techniques and Daoist Skills."

"But being confined here is like having an additional shackle, making it inconvenient to do anything privately..."

Overseeing the Demon Cave comes with great responsibilities alongside the benefits.

If one abandons their duties and causes a massive leak of Demonic Qi, the Mani Temple will undoubtedly issue a wide-ranging bounty, pursuing until death, with no place to hide across the entire Central Plains.

When Elder Monk Tongguang introduced the Sealed Demon Hall, he specifically highlighted the ’Divine Travel Array’ here, which is the main means of external communication.

If there is a need to go out, one must inform the Mani Temple in advance, letting them send a Golden Body Arhat to take over the guard, but this means every move is exposed under the gaze of the Mani Temple.

"Let’s give it a try."

Upon this thought, Zhang Yao divided a wisp of Divine Thought and explored into the Divine Travel Array of the Sealed Demon Hall.

The methods of communication in the Cultivation Realm are varied, but the real-time long-distance communication methods are relatively limited, constrained by cost, scale, safety, and secrecy, among other factors. The Divine Travel Array is one of the most popular methods.

However, the construction cost of a Divine Travel Array is also not low, and within the Da Li Territory, only the Celestial Treasure Tower Headquarters and a few Golden Core Level major forces can afford to build one.

The Mani Temple is wealthy, and among the twenty-four Demonic Caves and dozens of Great Buddha Temples, it has built Divine Travel Arrays, even constructing a communication network that is extremely luxurious.

"Boom!"

At the moment his Divine Thought penetrated the Divine Travel Array, Zhang Yao only felt a slight tremor in his Sea of Consciousness, instantly arriving in a new world.

Looking around:

Surrounding was a vast glittering golden ’Light Path’, laid out among island-like light points.

These different island-like light points seemed to be very far apart from each other, yet under the connection of the golden Light Path, they seemed within instant reach.

"A total of seventy-six nodes..."

Zhang Yao instantly saw all the island-like light points, most of which were flickering, while a few were in a dormant state.

The largest island-like light point was surrounded by eight smaller ones, flickering continuously, appearing very lively.

"That should be the Mani Temple, with nine Divine Travel Arrays built inside the temple..."

A guess arose in Zhang Yao’s heart.

And at this moment:

"Oh, another fellow daoist has arrived!"

A voice swiftly traveled through the golden Light Path into Zhang Yao’s Divine Thought.

Before Zhang Yao had time to respond, a dozen Divine Thoughts followed the golden Light Path, creating a cacophony:

"Welcome to the fellowship of Daoists!"

"Judging by the node location, did the Daoist choose Changle Mountain? Such boldness!"

"Let me introduce everyone, the one overseeing the Demon Cave at Changle Mountain is the renowned Elder Qingxu of the Southwest!"

"Oh, so it’s Fellow Daoist Qingxu! I’ve heard so much about you..."

Facing the multitude of Divine Thoughts, Zhang Yao responded one by one, chatting with the many Golden Core Cultivators for half a day before finally understanding the situation.

With him included, there are a total of seventeen outsider Golden Core Cultivators within the Mani Kingdom.

Due to the lack of conflicting interests, their relationships are very good, and they regularly hold "Fa Conferences," exchanging cultivation experiences while also serving as small-scale trade fairs.

The fixed "Fa Conferences" of the Mani Temple are held once every twenty years; but the "Fa Conferences" of the outsider Golden Core Cultivators often occur every few years, held very frequently.

"This is indeed good news!"

Zhang Yao’s heart was delighted:

"With more people, the flow of information is broader."

"Maybe I can use the channels of these outsider Golden Core Cultivators to help me find the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul!"

He has already refined three of the Five Elements Divine Techniques, and has specific leads on the Endless Yin Earth, only missing a Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul.

Oddly enough:

Among the many Heaven and Earth Treasures and Spiritual Objects Zhang Yao needs, the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul is one with the lowest value, merely a slightly rare Third Grade Spiritual Object, theoretically the easiest to find.

The places where this Spiritual Object is produced are numerous, especially in permafrost and glacier-type areas, relatively common and widely used, an almost necessary Spiritual Object for cultivators with Ice Attribute Exotic Spirit Roots.

Yet Zhang Yao has found both Fengxi Mountain Copper and Endless Yin Earth, but there has been no news of the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul.

"For the Endless Yin Earth, The Precious Luminous Golden Nectar, and Taiyin Dew, I already have leads."

"As for the remaining Divine Essence Pill Jade, Water of the Ruins, and Great Sun Attribute treasures, they are too rare, relying on these Golden Core Cultivators is almost hopeless."

"But obtaining a certain amount of Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul should have a good chance..."

Zhang Yao, thinking of this, used Divine Thought to communicate, seeking the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul from many Golden Core companions.

To his surprise:

Not long after he sent the message, a Golden Core Cultivator ’Daoist Tianshuang’, stationed at the Nether Marsh Demon Cave, actively approached him.

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu needs the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul?"

Daoist Tianshuang was very enthusiastic, conveying the message through Divine Thought:

"To be frank, I’m an Ice Attribute Exotic Spirit Root, practiced top level ice attribute Techniques, requiring a lot of the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul, and have accumulated quite a bit."

"Although the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul is very important to me, a gentleman aids others in achieving their desires. If you need it, I can part with some."

"Then I must thank Fellow Daoist Tianshuang!"

Zhang Yao was overjoyed and hurriedly communicated:

"I don’t know how much you still have on hand? The quantity I need is substantial."

"No worries, just speak freely."

Daoist Tianshuang responded, his tone quite forthright.

"I need a whole section of the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul."

Zhang Yao cautiously mentioned.

"Ah?!"

Daoist Tianshuang was greatly surprised, found it somewhat unbelievable:

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu, you... you’re not an Ice Spirit Root Cultivator, are you? How could you need so much Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul?"

A whole section of Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul, what concept is that?

Just as the main material to refine ice attribute magical treasures, it’s enough to craft over ten items. He himself couldn’t use so much Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul even after cultivating and refining techniques for a hundred years.

So much Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul, it could even be used to create an ice coffin made entirely of Ice Soul material.

"Fellow Daoist Tianshuang, pardon me."

Zhang Yao, slightly embarrassed, spoke:

"It’s due to my specialized Divine Techniques practice that I absolutely need this much Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul."

"If you don’t have that much, I’ll take whatever amount you can offer, and the price will surely satisfy you!"

Compared to many other treasures and Spiritual Objects, the value of the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul is the lowest, but the necessary quantity is the largest.

"This..."

Daoist Tianshuang couldn’t help hesitating.

To be frank, his purpose for approaching Zhang Yao was simple—to express goodwill and foster a personal favor.

After all, Elder Qingxu’s reputation is not small. Not only is his strength outstanding, but his talent is extraordinary and his future is promising, which is well-known among the Golden Core Cultivators lingering in the Central Plains.

Now that there’s an opportunity to form a connection, it certainly can’t be missed. More friends mean more paths, and by coincidence, he still had plenty of Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul that the other party needed.

But he didn’t expect that Elder Qingxu’s demand for the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul was too great, even beyond his imagination.

He himself did not have so much Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul, let alone able to trade them for a personal favor.

"...Forget it, since I’m offering, let me do it thoroughly."

"Since it’s to foster a personal favor, then why not do it best, at worst accumulate some good deeds over the years!"

Upon thinking this, Daoist Tianshuang immediately made up his mind.

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu, here’s the situation."

He communicated through Divine Thought:

"The quantity you need is too large, I don’t have so much stock at hand."

"But I am an ice attribute Exotic Spirit Root Cultivator after all, with fixed channels to obtain the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul, just a bit troublesome process."

"What do you say, wait for a few years while I temporarily leave the Mani Kingdom and return to Tunan Prefecture to fetch enough Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul for you?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yao was instantly moved and responded:

"How dare I trouble Fellow Daoist Tianshuang? Wouldn’t this delay your matters?"

"How about I try other means instead..."

To have a distinguished Golden Core Ancestor go running errands for him, for several years, Zhang Yao admitted he lacked such influence.

Moreover, the other party was willing to do so, not for a bit of Spirit Stone but to have him owe a solid personal favor, seeking future recompense.

Repaying a personal debt is difficult, especially for Zhang Yao, who for a long time is destined not to abandon his current status.

"No worries, you’re too polite Fellow Daoist Qingxu!"

Having made up his mind, Daoist Tianshuang naturally wouldn’t delay or hesitate but rather warmly persuaded:

"A few mere years are nothing."

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu, for us Golden Core Cultivators, one’s path is most important. Consider, if you miss this opportunity, who knows how many years you’ll have to wait..."

After Daoist Tianshuang’s effort in persuasion:

Zhang Yao hesitated for a while, then slowly made up his mind and spoke:

"Fine, then I’ll trouble Fellow Daoist Tianshuang to take a trip for me."

"As long as you can fetch a section of Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul for me, you’ll be the benefactor of my humble self."

Repaying a personal debt is difficult, but one’s own cultivation is more important.

The sooner the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul is obtained, the sooner he can refine the ’Five Elements Divine Wheel’, which is of significant importance to him.

"Good!"

Daoist Tianshuang was waiting for these words, and immediately rejoiced:

"Rest assured Fellow Daoist Qingxu!"

"Once I’ve handled the matters at hand and communicated with the Mani Temple, I’ll immediately set off for Tunan Prefecture!"